US4934398A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Preparaton of HIPR emulsions and transportation thereof
Assignee: BP PLC
•
Filing: 1988-06-02
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Granted: 1990-06-19
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Expires: 2008-06-02
Abstract
Abstract An HIPR (high internal phase ratio) emulsion of oil in water is prepared by directly mixing 70 to 98% by volume of a viscous oil having a viscosity in the range 200 to 250,000 mPa.s at the mixing temperature with 30 to 2% by volume of an aqueous solution of an emulsifying surfactant or an alkali, percentages being expressed as percentages by volume of the total mixture. Mixing is effected under low shear conditions in the range 10 to 1,000 reciprocal seconds in such manner that an emulsion is formed comprising highly distorted oil droplets having mean droplet diameters in the range 2 to 50 micron separated by thin interfacial films. The emulsions are much less viscous than the oils from which they are prepared and may, optionally after dilution, be pumped through a pipeline. Viscous crude oils may be transported by this method.
Inventors
- 👤 Maria L. Chirinos
- 👤 Alistair S. Taylor
- 👤 Spencer E. Taylor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 09:48
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10L; C10L1/00; C10L1/32; C10L1/328; B; B01; B01F; B01F23/00; B01F23/40; B01F23/41; B01F23/4105; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/0318; Y10T137/0391
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for the preparation of an HIPR emulsion of oil in water which method comprises directly mixing 70 to 98% by volume of a viscous oil having a viscosity in the range 200 to 250,000 mPa.s at the mixing temperature with 30 to 2% by volume of an aqueous solution of an emulsifying surfactant or an alkali, percentages being expressed as percentages by volume of the total mixture; mixing being effected under low shear conditions in the range 10 to 1,000 reciprocal seconds in such manner than an emulsion if formed comprising highly distorted oil droplets having mean droplet diameters in the range 2 to 50 micron separated by thin interfacial films.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for the preparation of an HIPR emulsion of oil in water which method comprises directly mixing 70 to 98% by volume of a viscous oil having a viscosity in the range 200 to 250,000 mPa.s at the mixing temperature with 30 to 2% by volume of an aqueous solution of an emulsifying surfactant or an alkali, percentages being expressed as percentages by volume of the total mixture; mixing being effected under low shear conditions in the range 10 to 1,000 reciprocal seconds in such manner than an emulsion if formed comprising highly distorted oil droplets having mean droplet diameters in the range 2 to 50 micron separated by thin interfacial films.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the feedstock comprises 80% to 90% by volume of oil, expressed as a percentage by volume of the total mixture.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein mixing is effected under low shear conditions in the range 50 to 250 reciprocal seconds.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the viscous oil has a viscosity in the range 2,000 to 250,000 mPa.s.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
79 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the surfactant is a non-ionic surfactant the molecules of which have a hydrocarbyl, hydrophobic group (which may be substituted) having a chain length in the range 8 to 18 carbon atoms, and one or more polyoxyethylene groups containing 9 to 100 ethylene oxide units in total, the hydrophilic group or groups containing 30 or more ethylene oxide units when the hydrophobic group has a chain length of 15 carbon atoms or greater.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the surfactant is an ethoxylatd alkyl phenol.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the surfactant is an ionic surfactant.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein a hydrophilic polymer is employed in addition to the ionic surfactant.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 8 wherein the hydrophilic polymer is polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene oxide, polyvinyl pyrrolidone or a polysaccharide biopolymer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method for the transportation of a viscous oil which method comprises the steps of preparing an HIPR emulsion of the oil-in-water type by a method according to claim 1, and pumping the HIPR emulsion through a pipeline.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 10 wherein the HIPR emulsion is diluted with an aqueous phase to a desired viscosity and/or concentration before being pumped through the pipeline.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-06-18 | 1993-12-18 | 1994-06-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-06-18 | 1997-12-18 | 1998-06-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-06-18 | 2001-12-18 | 2002-06-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |